Wisconsin man returning from funeral is struck and killed by car

A 27-year-old Mondovi, Wis., man returning from a funeral service for a fellow National Guardsman was killed after being struck by a car on Highway 53 near Trego, Wis., on Sept. 5.

David Talford reportedly was struck by a car while running toward southbound traffic, a Washburn County Sheriff’s Office report said. The incident occurred shortly after 1 a.m.

Talford and a friend attended the funeral of a National Guard comrade from the 128th Menomonie Alpha Company National Guard unit on Sept. 4. Afterward, they’d been drinking in Hayward, then later at a bar in Trego. Talford’s companion had been driving the pair around when he pulled over for a nap at the Trego Travel Center, later telling sheriff’s deputies that he was too intoxicated to continue home to Menomonie, Wis.

There have been no charges filed in the case, which was being handled by the Sheriff’s Office as well as the Wisconsin State Patrol, with further assistance from the Spooner Fire Department.

“This is a truly unfortunate accident and circumstance,” Washburn County Sheriff Terry Dryden said. “Mr. Talford has served his country overseas and in the National Guard 128th. The circumstances surrounding the cause of his death should be considered unacceptable by society. Alcohol was a contributing factor in Mr. Talford’s death; we should not be losing our young citizens to alcohol-related tragedies.

“Our sympathies, thoughts and concerns are with the family of Mr. Talford,” Dryden said.

The driver of the car told investigators that he suddenly observed a man male subject running directly at his vehicle. The driver attempted to stop his vehicle, the Sheriff’s Office said, but was unable to do so before striking the victim.